Friday 1 July 2016
Darts Weekly
Race to the
World Matchplay! Last spots for Blackpool to be decided this weekend P2-3
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Friday 1 July 2016 Darts Weekly
Fierce battle to qualify for the World Matchplay takes place in Barnsley this weekend Dave South DARTS WRITER Ahead of Players Championship events 10 and 11 this weekend, there is a fierce race to secure a spot in this year’s BetVictor World Matchplay. The second biggest PDC major on the calendar takes place in two weeks and with a share of the £450,000 prize money at stake, it is certainly a lucrative inclusion to appear at the event. The qualification criteria for the Matchplay is set as the top 16 on the Order of Merit plus the top 16, who have not already qualified, on the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Qualifying for this year’s Matchplay will go to the wire, with four players in the running to dethrone Vincent van der Voort of 16th place in the Order of Merit. The big Dutchman provisionally sits on £199,500, while Mensur Suljovic (£192,500), Mervyn King (£192,000), Simon Whitlock (£187,000) and Benito van de Pas £186,000) can close that gap with good runs this weekend. Irrespective of becoming a top 16 player this weekend, Big Ben will appear at the Matchplay as the highest seeded player from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Suljovic, Whitlock and King will also join van de Pas as the trio cannot be caught now. The only question that remains is whether they will be seeded or not. The one big name who could miss out on a trip to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens this summer is Kevin Painter. The Artist is provisionally £1,000 behind the final cut off position in the Pro Tour Order of Merit, which is currently held by Rowby-John Rodriguez. It is likely that Alan Norris, Daryl Gurney and Josh Payne will make their debuts at Blackpool later this month, while Austrian ace
Rodriguez needs to compete and fare no worse than Painter to hang on and also earn a Matchplay debut. The likes of Max Hopp, Robbie Green and Jamie Lewis are knocking on the doorstep though, but if Rodriguez can match their performances this weekend then he should be at the Winter Gardens in a few weeks. With a handful of players requiring either a win on the Pro Tour, or almost certainly semifinal appearances on both days, it will be down to the likes of Ricky Evans and Chris Dobey to produce a stellar performance to try and sneak into the top 16. A longshot could always break through this weekend. A win in either of the Players Championship events this weekend for Devon Petersen or John Henderson
‘The one big name who could miss out on Blackpool is Kevin Painter’ would surely be enough to see them climb into the qualifying places for Blackpool. Looking at how they have fared so far this season, beginning with Petersen, on the floor he has suffered opening round exits at his last two Players Championship appearances. The South African’s best display on the floor events was back in May where he reached the last 16 of a Players Championship. Other than that, he has lost in the last 32, last 64 or last 128 stages. Henderson has also struggled to make an impact on the Pro Tour this year, with five out of the nine Players Championship events yielding no return. The Scot’s best performance was an appearance in the last 32 in the fifth Players Championship. Although both players are
competent, their records this year does not give much confidence to suggest they can pull out a victory or have a major run at either event, but best of luck to the pair. The player I have the most concern for not making the Matchplay this year is former major winner, Painter. The Artist’s performances on the floor have been sound, with last 16 and last 32 appearances, although he will need to produce a quarterfinal run to put himself back into contention this weekend. It would be a massive shame not to see Painter at Blackpool, however he has left it later than desired and now must make a big push to seal a qualifying place. With almost all of the players in the World Series of Darts circuit taking a break from the Pro Tour this weekend, the opportunity could be present for someone to make a late surge into the top 16 of the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Whoever qualifies this weekend, a competitive line-up looks certain.
Darts Weekly Friday 1 July 2016
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Big weekend: Kevin Painter needs a profitable weekend in Barnsley if he is to qualify for the BetVictor World Matchplay
BetVictor World Matchplay line-up as it stands Provisional PDC Order of Merit (PC 10 and 11 to be added)
Provisional qualifiers from the Pro Tour Order of Merit
1. Michael van Gerwen £1,197,000 2. Gary Anderson £860,250 3. Phil Taylor £489,250 4. Adrian Lewis £446,250 5. Peter Wright £405,500 6. James Wade £358,750 7. Michael Smith £305,750 8. Robert Thornton £296,750 9. Dave Chisnall £266,500 10. Jelle Klaasen £256,500 11. R. van Barneveld £251,500 12. Ian White £233,500 13. Kim Huybrechts £225,250 14. Stephen Bunting £219,500 15. Terry Jenkins £208,000 16. V. van der Voort £199,500 ----------------------------------------17. Mensur Suljovic £192,500 18. Mervyn King £192,000 19. Simon Whitlock £187,000 20. Benito van de Pas £186,000
1. Benito van de Pas £67,500 2. Mensur Suljovic £50,250 3. Gerwyn Price £48,000 4. Alan Norris £45,000 5. Simon Whitlock £41,000 6. Daryl Gurney £36,750 7. Mervyn King £33,250 8. Joe Cullen £33,000 9. Justin Pipe £27,250 10. Mark Webster £26,250 11. Steve Beaton £24,500 12. Jamie Caven £23,750 13. Brendan Dolan £23,250 14. Josh Payne £23,000 15. Kyle Anderson £20,750 16. R-J Rodriguez £19,500 ----------------------------------------17. Kevin Painter £18,500 18. Max Hopp £18,250 19. Robbie Green £18,250 20. Jamie Lewis £18,250
Gilding targets third PDC final to sneak spot at the Matchplay Andrew Gilding is targeting a run to his third PDC final this weekend to secure a spot at the BetVictor World Matchplay later this month. The world number 27 needs a productive weekend in Barnsley to push himself into a qualifying place via the Pro Tour Order of Merit. A Players Championship doubleheader gets underway at the Barnsley Metrodome tomorrow, with the cut off for this year’s World Matchplay field at the end of this weekend. Austria’s Rowby-John Rodriguez currently occupies the last qualifying spot in the Pro Tour Order of Merit with £19,500, while Gilding trails behind by £3,500 on £16,000. “It’s going to be tough to get in now,” he admitted. “I’m going to need to get several thousand to stand a chance but fingers crossed I can have a good weekend. “I think I’ll need a runner-up in one of the two events, or get to a couple of semi-finals. “It would be great to get to Blackpool again. I beat Mervyn King in a thriller in the first round last year. It is a lovely venue.” The 45-year-old made his debut at the Winter Gardens in 2014, where he came up against an inform Adrian Lewis, who averaged over 110 to whitewash the Suffolk thrower 10-0. Last year Gilding notched his first win on the Blackpool stage, beating fellow East Anglian ace Mervyn King 10-8 in the last 32. Gilding’s previous two finals in the PDC both came back in 2014, with a 6-5 defeat to Stephen Bunting in a UK Open Qualifier followed by a deciding leg defeat to Gary Anderson in a Players Championship event. His best run so far this year was a Players Championship quarterfinal in April, which included a 6-5 win over Michael Smith.
Darts Weekly Friday 1 July 2016
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MVG returns to the winner’s enclosure with Shanghai title
TWITER
Michael van Gerwen claimed his first title on this year’s World Series of Darts circuit after beating James Wade 8-3 in the final of the inaugural Shanghai Darts Masters on Sunday. Last year’s World Series of Darts Finals winner had missed out on the winner’s cheque in both Dubai and Auckland in 2016, but looked to be back to his best as he won in China at the weekend. After surviving a spirited comeback from Singapore’s Paul Lim in the first round on Saturday, van Gerwen beat Raymond van Barneveld, Dave Chisnall and Wade on the final day to etch his name on the new trophy. “Every win means a lot to me but this is the first Shanghai Darts Masters so it’s very special,” the world number one said. “Everything came together and I’m really glad I won this trophy. “It’s been a very good week in China and it’s a pleasure for me to play in tournaments like this. “Shanghai’s fantastic and to get the win makes it even better. “James did really well to reach the final but I hit the right shots at the right time and I’m very happy with how I played.” Van Gerwen had to come back from 4-1 down in his semi-final against Chisnall, who had earlier seen off Auckland Darts Masters runner-up Adrian Lewis 8-6 in a close quarter-final clash. Chisnall took out checkouts of 148 and 150 to take an early lead, with MVG responding with a 145 finish as he turned the game around with four legs on the spin before claiming a place in the final against Wade. Van Gerwen started the final with a 138 finish as he stormed into a 3-0 lead, with Wade taking out 116 to get a leg on the board. Another four-leg burst took the Betway Premier League champion to the brink of victory at 7-1. Wade checked out 116 as he won
back-to-back legs to claw the deficit to 7-3, but van Gerwen sealed the title with a 13 darter in the next leg. Wade, who was playing in his first World Series final since last year’s Perth Masters, had won four of the previous five meetings against MVG. Reigning world champion Gary Anderson was aiming for a hattrick of World Series titles having won in Dubai and Auckland, but Wade raced into a 5-1 lead in their quarter-final to put the Scot on the brink of elimination. Anderson managed to fight back and force a decider, which he had three match darts in to edge through, and after missing them all Wade found double five to finally get over the line. Wade then beat Phil Taylor 8-6 in the semi-finals, although he had
World Series of Darts rankings 1. Gary Anderson - 27 points 2. Michael van Gerwen - 23 pts 3. James Wade - 16 pts 4. Adrian Lewis - 14 pts 5. Phil Taylor - 13 pts = Dave Chisnall - 13 pts 7. Raymond van Barneveld - 11 pts 8. Peter Wright - 9 pts
Winning pose: Michael van Gerwen won the inaugural Shanghai Darts Masters to battle back from 4-2 behind to get the better of the 16-time world champion. It was Taylor’s turn to be on the wrong side of the comeback, as in the quarter-finals he himself had produced a seven-leg winning streak to beat Peter Wright 8-7. Wright had stormed into a 7-1 lead but after missing five match darts he saw his big lead disappear and Taylor completed an unlikely comeback to progress. Wade clinched four legs in a row to come from 4-2 down to go 6-4 in front against Taylor, before the next four legs went with throw to see the Machine into his fourth final of the season. “I’ve beaten two amazing darts players today in Gary and Phil and unfortunately I didn’t turn up in the final,” Wade said. “Michael was too strong but it’s a step in the right direction because it’s a great thing to be involved in a final, and it’s obviously the first time over here in China.” The PDC World Series of Darts continues with the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters, which starts at the Yoyogi Olympic Hall on Wednesday.
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Friday 1 July 2016 Darts Weekly
England make it three wins in a row in the Six Nations Cup England got over an early defeat against hosts Republic of Ireland to retain the Six Nations Cup in Sligo at the weekend. The men’s team, captained by former world champion Scott Mitchell and also featuring Jamie Hughes, Dennis Harbour, Mark McGeeney and James Hurrell beat Wales 13-8 in the final on Sunday. England were aiming for their third Six Nations win in a row, having won the tournament in Wales in 2014 and last year in Northern Ireland, but their title defence got off to a bad start. On Friday night England took on hosts Republic of Ireland for their first game in Group Two, and after storming into a 6-1 lead, the host nation fought back by winning eight legs in a row to go 9-6 up. In the 24th leg, McGeeney got the better of Michael Meaney to force a deciding leg, which Ireland’s Stephen Lennon won against Harbour to secure a 13-12 victory for the hosts. England bounced back on Saturday with a 13-5 triumph over
British Internationals champions, which earnt them a semi-final clash with Scotland on the final day. A 13-10 win over the Scots booked England’s place in the final and another meeting with Wales, who had earlier beaten last year’s beaten finalists Netherlands 13-9 in the other semi-final. The Welsh team, captained by
Clean sweep: England won the men’s and ladies team events at the Six Nations Cup in Ireland on Sunday Martin Phillips and including Nick Kenny, Jim Williams, Wayne Warren and Mark Layton made a slow start in the final, as England powered into an 8-3 lead. A spirited comeback from the Welsh saw them reel off five legs on the spin to level the final up at 8-8, before England returned the favour with five straight legs to run out 13-8 winners. The England men’s team’s success was matched by the ladies, who followed up their recent British Internationals triumph by winning the Six Nations Cup on Sunday evening. After thrashing Northern Ireland 9-0 in their opening game in Group One, the England ladies saw off Netherlands 7-2 to progress to the semi-finals as group winners. England recorded another whitewash in the semi-finals as they comfortably beat hosts Republic of Ireland 5-0, while in the other semi-final defending champions Wales defeated the Dutch 5-2. In the final, Deta Hedman produced an excellent 161 finish as England eased to a 5-0 victory.
Darts Weekly Friday 1 July 2016
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Durrant faces Roberts in BDO Gold Cup opener on Saturday The draw for the BDO Gold Cup has been made, with BDO’s number one Glen Durrant set to face Gwynn’s Deian Roberts in the last 128. The £9,600 tournament sees 165 players competing at the Event City in Manchester this weekend, with play scheduled to start at 2.30pm on Saturday. Former world champion Scott Mitchell will play either Micky Stocks or Kevin Down, while recent World Trophy semi-finalist Jamie Hughes takes on Tony Hamit. Another former world champion John Walton is in action against David Fritchley in the last 128, while fast-improving Welshman Dean Reynolds meets Steve Ritchie in the second round and Dave Parletti faces off against Paul Riley. Wales captain Martin Phillips starts his campaign against Paul Bailey, while 2013 Gold Cup champion Paul Hogan takes on Shaun Walshe in the last 256. Brian Dawson beat Paul Barham 3-0 in last year’s final, but neither player will be involved in the 2016 staging of the tournament, which
was first held back in 1978. John Lowe won the first two Gold Cups, with his third win in 1982 making him the most successful player. Bob Anderson and Dennis Priestley are the only other players to have won the Gold Cup on more than one occasion. Anderson triumphed in both 1983 and 1986, while Priestley’s
Winning pair: Brian Dawson and Fallon Sherrock won the Gold Cup singles titles in 2015 two victories came in consecutive years in 1991 and 1992. There have been 23 different first-time winners in the last 23 years, making the Gold Cup one of the most difficult events on the calendar to predict a winner from.
PDC SHANGHAI DARTS MASTERS (Pullman Hotel Shanghai South, China)
Turner, M Dudbridge 5-3 S Maish. Final R Cross 5-2 M Dudbridge.
First round - G Anderson 6-0 Y Jiang, J Wade 6-1 S Lai, P Taylor 6-1 Y Liu, P Wright 6-1 R Lam, M van Gerwen 6-4 P Lim, R van Barneveld 6-2 L Wen, A Lewis 6-0 J Shen, D Chisnall 6-2 S Mackenzie. Quarter finals - G Anderson 7-8 J Wade, P Taylor 8-7 P Wright, M van Gerwen 8-4 R van Barneveld, A Lewis 6-8 D Chisnall. Semi finals - J Wade 8-6 P Taylor, M van Gerwen 8-5 D Chisnall. Final - J Wade 38 M van Gerwen.
Event 11 semi finals - R Burnett 5-3 P Hudson, R Searle 5-4 R North. Final - R Burnett 5-2 R Searle. Event 12 semi finals - R Eidams 5-4 M Padgett, K Hart 5-1 B Bates. Final - K Hart 5-3 R Eidams.
Scotland. Final - England 13-8 Wales. Ladies group one - Northern Ireland 09 England, England 7-2 Netherlands, Netherlands 6-3 Northern Ireland. Group two - Republic of Ireland 8-1 Scotland, Scotland 2-7 Wales, Wales 6-3 Republic of Ireland. Fifth place play off - Northern Ireland 5-0 Scotland. Semi finals England 5-0 Republic of Ireland, Wales 52 Netherlands. Final - England 5-0 Wales.
BDO SIX NATIONS CUP (Great Southern Hotel Sligo, Republic of Ireland)
HARROWS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (Brisbane)
Men’s competition group one Scotland 12-13 Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland 7-13 Netherlands, Netherlands 1113 Scotland. Group two - Republic of Ireland 13-12 England, England 13-5 Wales, Wales 13-4 Republic of Ireland. Fifth place play-off - Northern Ireland 13-12 Republic of Ireland. Semi finals Wales 13-9 Netherlands, England 13-10
Event 15 final - D Platt 5-2 J Matheson. Event 16 final - C Cadby 6-3 L Cameron. Event 17 final - C Cadby 6-0 S Macarthur.
Database
PDC UNICORN CHALLENGE TOUR (ArenaMK, Milton Keynes) Event nine semi finals - L Evans 5-4 A Smith-Neale, M Padgett 5-3 A Hunt. Final - M Padgett 5-4 L Evans. Event 10 semi finals - R Cross 5-2 M
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Friday 1 July 2016 Darts Weekly
ALEX MOSS CHIEF DARTS WRITER LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC
Can bad defeat provide the venom for Snakebite? It is hard to picture another time when Peter Wright left the stage after a match as disappointed as he was last Sunday in Shanghai. After cruising into a 7-1 lead against Phil Taylor in their Shanghai Darts Masters quarterfinal, Wright spurned five match darts and lost seven legs on the spin to somehow lose 8-7. Wright’s sudden rise in the PDC from relative unknown to a regular fixture in the Premier League and World Series has shown little signs of relenting, but there is a cloud hanging over him still. Can he win a major title? Over the last two to three years the Scot has reached three major finals, the World Championship in 2014 and the UK Open in 2015 and 2016. On all three occasions Wright has been beaten by world number one Michael van Gerwen. MVG has also gotten the better of him in two World Series finals, while Taylor has been on the winning side in the other two televised finals that have featured Wright. Darts commentators and fans have said it is a matter of when, not if, he will get over the line in a final on the TV. But with each final defeat that falls Wright’s way, you have to ask what is the man nicknamed ‘Snakebite’ missing to win when it really matters? Wright’s weekend performance in the Shanghai Darts Masters showed all of the intricacies in his game right now. From making adjustments to his darts during his first round win over Royden Lam, to the big finishes and 180 hitting in the
quarter-final against Taylor, and then to the capitulation at the final hurdle. For Wright’s fans, and there are a huge number of them around the world, it must be frustrating following their man’s fortunes each week. A player who possesses a huge amount of ability and desire, but perhaps lacks the killer instinct that a van Gerwen or a Taylor has. To become a winner in the big
‘The defeat to Taylor in Shanghai could be a career-defining moment for Wright’ finals Wright must find that killer instinct and bring it into his game. The defeat to Taylor on Sunday, after being ahead by such a wide margin, would have been utterly soul-destroying, but Wright must use this as motivation to propel himself to the next level. He wasn’t the first person to throw away a big lead and he most certainly won’t be the last. Wright, along with most of his fellow
Push on: Snakebite will want to put things right when he plays in Japan next week World Series competitors, have elected not to enter the Players Championship double-header in Barnsley this weekend. With the next World Series event coming up as soon as next week in Japan, it is a sensible move, and for Wright it gives him plenty of time to assess what went wrong in Shanghai and look at how it can be corrected. Although there were no ranking points at stake, or a major trophy up for grabs, that defeat to Taylor at the weekend could be a careerdefining moment for Wright. Followers of the sport will be watching on with interest next week to see how he reacts to losing in that manner. I hope Wright will be spurred on by the emotions he felt on Sunday after losing to Taylor and will use it to good effect. We could well be on the verge of seeing our next first time major winner be crowned, has Wright now got the bite to make it him?